Overly Cautious: How I’m Convincing Myself to Take More Risks

February 9, 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

I am a fairly cautious person. For good reason––the world is an unpredictable place. You never know what could happen. (Someone could not return your hello…! Or the new menu item you order could turn out to be terrible! Or much, much worse things could happen that I’d rather not even think about.) But despite […]

Teacher Life: The Girl Who Doesn’t Talk

February 4, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’m sure every teacher runs into their fair share of shy students over the years. Students who are hesitant to raise their hand. Kids who speak softly no matter how enthusiastically you encourage them to be emotive. I was one of those students way back when. But I currently have one student who never talks. Ever. And I’m […]

We’ve Made It This Far (Let’s keep going and not give up!)

January 31, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

I am officially 30 today! Unexpectedly, my overriding feeling today is one of accomplishment. Not about anything in particular, just about having successfully made it this far. Three decades of life completed! Yes! Though I smiled to myself ironically as I said that to myself earlier, I think it really is a good attitude to have. We […]

Those Experiences that Change You: Trip to Indonesia

January 25, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

I came back from a short missions trip to Indonesia over a week ago, and I’m still realizing all the ways the trip changed me. I recognized some changes as they were happening: I could literally feel my heart shifting. But other changes I’m only recognizing now. The absence of weights that used to be present. The […]

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone Involves Risk (but could also lead to fun) – Motorbiking in Indonesia

January 8, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

My friend asked me this morning if I was cool with calling two Uber motorbikes to take us to our tourist destination. “Sure, yeah!” I said. “I rode on the back of a motorbike in Thailand, and it was so fun!” This is true. But that ride was about five minutes long down a mostly deserted […]

2017: A New Beginning

January 2, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Hello, 2017! My theme for 2016 was Maturity. This year, the theme I have sensed from God is New Beginnings. Sounds like time to start some new habits, right? Oddly, this is the first year in recent memory where I haven’t started off the year with a list of goals in mind. In keeping with my new […]

The Coming – Advent Reflections, Part 3: Joy

December 21, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Christmas is a time of joy. Everyone knows that. Whether because Santa is coming, gifts are being exchanged, or loved ones are uniting, Christmas is generally known for being a time of cheer. For a moment, amidst all those lovely Christmas festivities, I’d like to take a moment to examine the joy that was felt that […]

The Coming – Advent Reflections, Part 2: Hope

December 16, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Hope is essential. It’s what carries us forward in dark times. It’s the ability to see beyond what is now, to what could be, to what will be. God was silent for 400 years before Jesus came, but some did not lose hope, including Simeon, a man who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke […]